New shades of Mendocino Crayon Box

(Mickie McCormic Photo)
Artist and yarnbomber Streetcolor installs felting on the pillars at the Mendocino Hotel as part of Mendocino Art Center's off-site exhibition Mendocino Crayon Box. See story on Page 2.

Mendocino Crayon Box – the colorful townwide yarnbombing/feltbombing installation by yarnbomber Streetcolor, presented by the Mendocino Art Center – continues to evolve with new pieces being created and installed each week, providing a fresh viewer experience with each return visit.

Beginning in mid-June the first handmade and dyed felt pieces installed on Main Street building pillars were solid colors, evocative of a life-sized box of crayons. Strolling down Main Street, the calm and peaceful hues provide a subtle interaction with the ocean. Knitted and crocheted elements made at the Mendocino Yarn Shop were added, adorning select trees in town. The newest pieces are very patterned and jazzy. New pieces will continue to go up through mid-August.

The installation has received a very positive response, with a curious public drawn into participating businesses to learn more. While installing new pieces, Streetcolor and her assistant, Kelly Hatcher, have received many questions about their work.

"It was always part of the idea to interact with as many people as possible," Streetcolor said. "An offsite presentation, using the outdoors as a gallery space, is very cutting edge in the art museum and gallery world, and Mendocino and the Mendocino Art Center are part of that new trend."

In December, Streetcolor will have a month-long residency at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, where she plans another large-scale outdoor installation. "It's been very exciting to try out a lot of new ideas in Mendocino first and see how the community responds."

For more information and a brochure/map of participating businesses, visit the Mendocino Art Center website at www.MendocinoArtCenter.org/crayon or call 707-937-5818. The Mendocino Art Center is located at 45200 Little Lake St., Mendocino.